Strike, lockout ban vetoed as union OKs extension

David Mercer, Associated Press

Published
7:11 pm CDT, Wednesday, July 29, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — Even as Illinois and the union that represents most of its employees agreed to a short-term deal Wednesday to keep workers on the job through contract negotiations, Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed union-backed legislation that would have blocked strikes and lockouts.

The two-month extension appeared to be a rare bit of progress in what have been contentious negotiations between the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the state. But with the veto, announced later, the two sides appeared to be back in familiar, confrontational territory.

The extension runs through the end of September and was intended to keep the two sides talking. The union’s contract expired June 30, and reports followed that the governor’s administration has contacted retired state workers to gauge their willingness to return to work in the event of a strike.

The legislation was passed through both houses of the General Assembly on bipartisan votes and sent to the governor in May. In addition to public employee strikes and management lockouts, it would also have required binding arbitration if the sides reach an impasse and was backed by Democrats and AFSCME, aimed at countering what they see as Rauner’s anti-union rhetoric.

The governor said in a statement Wednesday that the bill was based on what he called the “false premise” that he was unreasonable and determined to force a strike or lock out state workers.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. We have negotiated in good faith with AFSCME since shortly after I took office,” Rauner said in a statement.

He also complained that the measure’s plan for binding arbitration would put financial decisions in the hand of what he said would be “unelected, unaccountable arbitrators.”

The union, after earlier saying it has sensed a change in tone from Rauner, was sharply critical of the veto.

“Governor Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 1229 sends a disturbing message about his commitment to reaching fair contract terms,” AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said in an emailed statement. “His veto also denies the people of Illinois the assurance that the public services they rely on will continue without disruption.”

A call to Rep. Rep. David Koehler, a Democrat from Peoria and one of the sponsors of the strike-and-lockout legislation, was not immediately returned.

Rauner has pushed for a pay freeze, cuts in the state’s contribution to worker health care plans and reductions in other benefits to save money. The state is trying to deal with a budget deficit of up to $4 billion.

The union wants pay raises and improved health care coverage for laid-off workers, among other things.